FAQ

When MGM's Crime Does Not Pay series debuted in 1936, it created a
pattern which it consistently followed until 1939--and the short films
were amazingly good. The films mostly involved gangsters, though not
always, and they were tense and very violent. However, when WWII began,
the films more and more often involved topics like good citizenship and
Americanism. Then, once the Americans entered WWII in late 1941, the
topics almost exclusively were about sabotage, spies and the like. And,
frankly, the films lost their edge and became a bit preachy. I
understand why the films changed, as Hollywood was trying to bolster
the war effort with positive propaganda, but the films STILL come off
as propaganda and are less entertaining. In light of the war effort,
it's not surprising that they would make a film about a disloyal and
greedy sailor who is willing, if the price is right, to help our
enemies to sink one of our ships. Apart from seeing Jim Davis and Hugh
Beaumont before they were stars, this is a pretty pretty adequate film
and nothing more.

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